Lots of songs have been written by moms, for moms, and about moms. If you’re celebrating Mother’s Day, here’s a playlist: 20 songs that reflect all those complicated, warm, appreciative feelings.
1
The Shirelles, “Mama Said”
Soul girl group The Shirelles made this grateful doo-wop bop, all about realizing mama knows best when it comes to heartbreak and love.
2
Cam’ron, “Hey Ma”
Cam’ron was certainly not singing about his mom—”You smoke? / I smoke / I drink / Me too”—but it’s never a bad idea to spin this groovy early aughts beat.
3
Eminem, “Cleanin’ Out My Closet”
“I’m sorry momma / I never meant to hurt you.” Never thought I’d relate to Eminem, but there’s a first time for everything. Here’s a rather earnest apology to Mama-nem, set to an infectiously smooth rat-a-tat rhythm.
4
Boyz II Men, “A Song for Mama”
Only these guys could spin such a tender-hearted ballad for their moms. If you really want to go all out, learn the piano part and give her a good old serenade.
5
Tupac, “Dear Mama”
“I finally understand / For a woman it ain’t easy trying to raise a man.” 2pac’s mom sounds like the absolute best, tbh.
6
Squeeze Box, “The Who”
What’s great about this song is how it portrays Mama just doing exactly what she pleases: Playing her squeeze box all the damn time.
7
Iron and Wine, “Upward Over the Mountain”
Iron and Wine’s Sam Beam evokes so many pretty images in this folky guitar ballad, but its sweetness has a bitter edge, acknowledging the way children can hurt their parents in a way nobody else can.
8
Drake, “God’s Plan”
Drake only loves his bed and his momma. Same!
9
Brandi Carlile, “The Mother”
Even though country star Brandi Carlile captured her own stirring experience of being “the mother of Evangeline” here, the song’s modesty, awe, and wisdom turned it into a more widely beloved and relatable tribute.
10
Juvenile, “Mama Got Ass”
A bombastic reminder about where you likely got your best attributes. (Yr mama.)
11
B.B. King, “Nobody Loves Me But My Mother”
The King of the Blues knows what it’s all about. Honestly, sometimes it really does feel that way.
12
Spice Girls, “Mama”
Just five gals sitting around on stools and singing about their moms. Thank you, 1996.
13
The Beatles, “Your Mother Should Know”
On second thoughts, maybe you shouldn’t play your mother a song that includes the line “She was born a long, long time ago.” Anyway, what’s certain is your mother does know. Everything.
14
Queen Latifah, “When You’re Good to Mama”
Not to be too tit for tat, but it’s not not true: When you’re good to mama, mama’s good to you.
15
“Mother” by Kacey Musgraces
You can tell your mom this song by Grammy winner Kacey Musgraves was inspired by a text message from her own mother. But maybe she won’t want to know that Musgraves was also inspired by an acid trip.
16
“Blue” by Beyoncé
From the moment Bey revealed she was pregnant at the 2011 VMAs, Blue Ivy Carter has been a fixture in her mom’s creative life as well as her family. One of the most moving moments on Beyoncé’s self-titled album is this ballad about her first child. It even features a cameo from Blue herself.
17
“Take Your Mama” by Scissor Sisters
Coming out to your family can be hard, and this high-energy number recommends one way to do it: Take your mama to the club. Go on!
18
“Where You Lead”
Lorelai and Rory Gilmore are one of TV’s great mom–daughter pairs, and they got the perfect theme in Carole King’s 1971 classic “Where You Lead.” In this version, King even replaces “New York City” with the Gilmores’ home town of Stars Hollow.
19
“Mommy” by Missy Elliott
“The definition of mommy is not ‘a chick with kids’ / Mommy means the boss, the money maker, the man taker, the provider…. So if you a fly mommy, please stand upppppppp!” Can’t argue with Missy.
20
“Carrie and Lowell” by Sufjan Stevens
Not everyone has an easy relationship with their mother, and others have mothers to mourn. In “Carrie and Lowell,” Sufjan Stevens grapples with the mother who left his family when he was just one, then returned sporadically, and passed away in 2012.
Senior Editor
Estelle Tang is the Senior Editor covering culture and entertainment at ELLE.com—including TV, movies, books, music, and Adidas tracksuits.
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